Tennis officials considering significant rule changes for Rio 2016

Tennis officials are considering adding third-set tiebreakers at the next Olympics after some marathon matches in London this year. Also, bronze-medal matches could be eliminated to lighten the loads of players entered in multiple events.

Bronze-medal matches may be eliminated

The Associated Press · December 7, 2012

Roger Federer of Switzerland is congratulated by Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina after his win in the Semifinal of Men's Singles Tennis on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wimbledon. The marathon match has tennis officials considering rule changes. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis officials are considering adding third-set tiebreakers at the 2016 Rio Olympics after marathon matches in London this year.

Also, bronze-medal matches could be eliminated to lighten the loads of players entered in multiple events.

ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti told The Associated Press at the European Olympic Committees meeting in Rome that the matches this year were "very balanced and very long and that ruins the scheduling somewhat."

Roger Federer beat Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in the London semifinals and was soundly beaten by Andy Murray in straight sets in the gold-medal match.

In the second round, Canadain Milos Raonic lost a marathon 6-3, 3-6, 25-23 decision to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

If bronze-medal matches are eliminated, it would mark a return to handing out two bronzes for each of the semifinal losers, as happened at the 1988 Seoul Games.